Open (exposed) toe walking or running shoe

ABSTRACT

The subject of this patent application is an improved walking and/or running shoe. The shoe is an assembly made up of four primary parts, namely, a means for exposing front portion of foot, a means for forming sole of shoe, a means for covering top of shoe, and a means for tying shoe. The means for exposing front portion of foot is the open or exposed area of the means for covering top of shoe, which exposes some, a portion, or all of the toes, and may include an additional indentation to expose some or all of the pinkie toe as well.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is the corresponding non-provisional application of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/185,612, filed Feb. 29, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] During sustained or extended periods of walking and/or running it is common for an individual to experience blisters, chafing, athlete's foot, the loss of toe nails, and numerous other ailments associated with, and resulting from, an individuals toes, and/or front portion areas of their foot, from rubbing against the inside portion of the top or side areas of the inner upper sole portion of their shoe. Traditional walking and running shoes are fully enclosed in order to provide full foot support, however, the upper toe area of an individual's foot need not be enclosed, as this only further encourages perspiration, fatigue, and discomfort.

[0003] Thus, there is a need for a shoe, which provides full foot support, yet still, allows for the upper toe area of the foot to be exposed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to shoes and components thereof, and more particularly to an improved walking or running shoe by having an “open” or “exposed” toe area. The open toe area prevents, or minimizes, a portion of the foot and/or toes from rubbing or having contact with the inside portion of the upper sole that normally may result in significant discomfort to the user (especially during sustained or extended periods of walking or running) by preventing some or all of the user's toes from rubbing against the inside portion of the inside upper or side areas of the upper sole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0005] In order that the invention may be fully understood there shall now be described a preferred construction of an article of footwear incorporating the improvements of the present invention, the description being by way of non-limitative example only and being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing wherein:

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates in top plan view (left shoe) of a sports shoe having an open toe area constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a side elevation (right side of left shoe) as contemplated by the present invention of FIG. 1; and

[0008]FIG. 3 is a side elevation (left side of left shoe) as contemplated by the present invention of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

[0009] The subject of this patent application is an improved walking and/or running shoe. The shoe is an assembly made up of four primary parts, namely, an open toe area 1, a bottom sole 3, an upper sole 7, and a lace 10. The open toe area 1 is the open or exposed area of the upper sole 7, which exposes some, a portion, or all of the toes, and may include an additional indentation 2 to expose some or all of the pinkie toe as well. The bottom sole 3 is preferably foot shaped with a heel 4, a sole tip 5, and a side rim 6. The bottom sole 3 is preferably made of rigid material, such as rubber or neoprene. The heel 4 and sole tip 5 are preferably made up of the same rigid material as the bottom sole 3 with the sole tip 5 extending up at the front of the shoe to protect the front of the foot and exposed toes. The side rim 6 is preferably resilient yet flexible in order to flex with the shoe during motion, yet preferably semi-rigid to protect the side(s) of the foot from any miscellaneous abrasion, including but not limited to accidental contact with the other foot. The side rim 6 is preferably made up of the same material as the upper sole 7, the bottom sole 3, and/or a combination of the two. The upper sole 7 is preferably convex in shape, preferably fits over the top of the foot, and may include a tongue 9. The upper sole rim 8 preferably borders the top outer edge of the open toe area 1 and may include the pinkie toe additional indentation 2 portion as well. The upper sole 7 and tongue 9 are preferably made of a flexible material such as leather, neoprene, synthetic leather or a mesh type breathable material. The upper sole rim 8 is preferably flexible as well, and may consist of a seam along its edge. The upper sole rim 8 may also be made of the same flexible material of which the upper sole 7 and tongue 9 are made of The lace is preferably tubular and flexible. It is preferably sufficient in length to loop through all the holes in the upper sole 7, including the center loop 11, and still allow enough material to tie the shoe. The lace is preferably made of cotton, nylon, synthetics, or any combination thereof The center loop 11 is joined at the base of the tongue 9, preferably near the center, and preferably near the edge of the upper sole rim 8. As the lace is tightened, the center loop 1 1 may lift the upper sole rim 8, to prevent contact of the upper sole 7 or upper sole rim 8 with the users foot.

[0010] The subject of this patent application may be more generally described as follows: The subject of this patent application is an improved walking and/or running shoe. The shoe is an assembly made up of four primary parts, namely, a means for exposing front portion of foot 1, a means for forming sole of shoe 3, a means for covering top of shoe 7, and a means for tying shoe 10. The means for exposing front portion of foot is the open or exposed area 1 of the means for covering top of shoe, which exposes some, a portion, or all of the toes, and may include an additional indentation to expose some or all of the pinkie toe as well 2. The means for forming sole of shoe 3 is preferably foot shaped with a means for forming heel 4 of shoe, a means for protecting front portion of foot 5, and a means for protecting side portion(s) of foot 6. The means for forming sole of shoe 3 is preferably made of rigid material, such as rubber or neoprene. The means for forming heel 4 of shoe and means for protecting front portion of foot 5 are preferably made up of the same rigid material as the means for forming sole of shoe 3, with the means for protecting front portion of foot extending up at the front of the shoe 5 to protect the front of the foot and exposed toes. The means for protecting side portion(s) of foot 6 is preferably resilient yet flexible in order to flex with the shoe during motion, yet preferably semi-rigid to protect the side(s) of the foot from any miscellaneous abrasion, including but not limited to accidental contact with the other foot. The means for protecting side portion(s) of foot is preferably made up of the same material as the means for covering top of shoe 7, the means for forming sole of shoe 3, and/or a combination of the two. The means for covering top of shoe 7 is preferably convex in shape, preferably fits over the top of the foot, and may include a means for covering opening of upper sole 7. The means for seam edge 8 above the open toe area 1 rim preferably borders the top outer edge of the means for exposing front portion of foot 1 and may include the means for exposing additional side portion of foot portion as well 2. The means for covering top of shoe and means for covering opening of upper sole 7 are preferably made of a flexible material such as leather, neoprene, synthetic leather or a mesh type breathable material. The means for seam edge 8 above the open toe area 1 rim is preferably flexible as well, and may consist of a seam along its edge. The means for seam edge 8 above the open toe area 1 rim may also be made of the same flexible material of which the means for covering top of shoe and means for covering opening of upper sole 7 are made of The means for tying shoe 10 is preferably tubular and flexible. It is preferably sufficient in length to loop through all the holes in the means for covering top of shoe 7, including the means for securing lace to the shoe, and still allow enough material to tie the shoe. The means for tying shoe 10 is preferably made of cotton, nylon, synthetics, or any combination thereof. The means for securing lace to the shoe is joined at the base of the means for covering opening of upper sole 7, preferably near the center, and preferably near the edge of the means for seam edge above the open toe area 1 rim. As the means for tying shoe is tightened, the means for securing lace to the shoe may lift the means for seam edge 8 above the open toe area rim, to prevent contact, of the means for covering top of shoe or means for seam edge 8 above the open toe area 1, with the users foot.

[0011] In operation, the open toe walking and/or running shoe is used on most any surface. The user may or may not wear socks. When a foot is placed in the shoe, the front, or a portion of the front, or toe portion of the foot, is exposed. The open toe area 1 prevents, or minimizes, a portion of the foot and/or toes from rubbing or having contact with the inside portion of the upper sole 7 that normally may result in significant discomfort to the user, by preventing some or all of the user's toes and/or foot from rubbing against the inside portion of the upper or side sole. Blisters, chafing, athlete's foot, the loss of toe nails, and numerous other ailments associated with the toes, and/or front-foot portion of a user's foot, as a result from having contact with the enclosed upper and side sole portions of a traditional shoe, are minimized or eliminated. In addition, the open and exposed area 1 provides for better ventilation, which may result in reduced perspiration, fatigue, discomfort, and other ailments associated with a traditional enclosed walking or running shoe. As the walker, or runner, walks or runs, the front top portion of their foot is exposed; however, the bottom sole 3, side rim 6, and sole tip 5, support and protect the users foot. In addition, by tightening the shoelace, the center loop 11 may lift the upper sole rim 8 to prevent any additional contact between the upper sole 7 and the user's foot. The shoe may also include an additional cut-back portion of the open toe area for a pinkie toe indentation/recess 2, to assist in preventing the user's pinkie toe from having contact with the shoe's top or side portions of the upper sole 7 as well.

[0012] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that other changes can me made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the present invention in any way be limited by the specification, but instead, that the scope of the invention be entirely determined by reference to the claims that follow. 

1. An article of footwear having an open or exposed upper sole area which exposes some, a portion, or all of the toes.
 2. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said upper sole may include an additional indentation/recess to expose some or all of the pinkie toe as well. 